61st Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré - ProT

France, June 7-14, 2009

Stage 4 - June 11: Valence - Le Mont Ventoux, 154km

Complete live report

Live commentary by Gregor Brown

15:01 CEST
Welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of the Dauphiné Libéré. Today the riders face a 42.4-kilometre time trial stage from Bourg-Les-Valence to Valence.

Niki Terpstra (Milram) holds the leader's jersey thanks to making the escape group and winning yesterday's stage. Australian Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) held it before for the first days after his win in day one's time trial.

15:10 CEST
Tom Boonen (Quick Step) just rolled out of the start house. Robert Gesink (Rabobank) is up next.

15:12 CEST
Boonen must be a happy man today. Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme gave the green light to Boonen for this year's Tour de France. Prudhomme spoke at a meeting today in Paris.

The winner of this year's Paris-Roubaix and six Tour de France stages tested for cocaine in April.

15:13 CEST
It is a nice day here in France, 30°.

15:14 CEST
"I only want to test myself," said Alberto Contador (Astana). "I have not been at my best after a break of 57 days. I came to the Dauphiné to prepare for the Tour. I will also test the new bike again, like I did in Nancy."

The Spaniard starts at 16:09.

15:19 CEST
Ivan Basso (Liquigas) just started the race. We spoke with him after stage two, he mentioned he will be sending in a diary soon.

The Dauphiné Libéré is his last race before a break. He will build towards the Vuelta a España in September.

15:20 CEST
There are two spots set up for time checks, one at km 12 and one at km 22.4.

16:03 CEST
Alberto Contador (Astana) selected Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) as the favourite to win today's time trial. Evans won the opening time trial and held the lead until the end of yesterday's stage to St-Etienne.

16:30 CEST
Iñigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi) looks smooth, but we can expect him to slide down the classification tonight.

Jurgen Van den Broeck (Silence-Lotto) finishes 18th best.

16:32 CEST
Bert Grabsch (Columbia-Highroad) scored the best time at the first time check, 14:14.

16:34 CEST
Sebastian Lang (Silence-Lotto) closes his run.

16:35 CEST
His teammate, Evans, is ninth at the first time check.

16:36 CEST
Jérôme Pineau (Quick Step) closes with 53:36.

16:38 CEST
If Niki Terpstra (Milram) continues strong he will keep his lead over Evans by 32 seconds.

Evans passes Landaluze.

16:39 CEST
Brent Bookwalter (BMC Racing Team) finishes his run.

16:43 CEST
29:45, Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) set the new best time at the second time check. 12" faster than World Champion Bert Grabsch (Columbia-Highroad).

16:44 CEST
David Millar (Garmin-Slipstream) closes with provisional second place! Just over 52 minutes, at 52:05.

16:47 CEST
According to our checks, Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) moves into the virtual overall lead. He is nudging out Niki Terpstra (Milram).

Remember, the race continues tomorrow with the Mont Ventoux. A stage that will also feature in this year's Tour de France.

16:52 CEST
Christian Knees (Milram) ends the stage in 12th.

Frantisek Rabon (Columbia-Highroad) comes to the line in third, 52:06. Just behind David Millar (Garmin-Slipstream).

16:54 CEST
A mechanical forces Niki Terpstra (Milram) to change bikes. Evans leads him in the virtual overall by 1:04. Contador is in second at 35".

16:56 CEST
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) finishes in 10th, provisional, at 53:11. A good ride by the young Italian. He will be co-leader for the team at the Tour de France with Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas).

16:57 CEST
Sébastien Rosseler (Quick Step) finishes in 52:46.

16:58 CEST
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) won the time trial last year in the Dauphiné Libéré. The Spaniard comes to the line now.

17:00 CEST
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) finishes with a time of 53:04, 1:38 back from Bert Grabsch (Columbia-Highroad). The German leads the provisional standings.

Valverde looks back to see his time.

17:01 CEST

17:01 CEST
Alberto Contador (Astana) finishes with a good time, 52:18. The Spaniard will not take over the race lead, but will be in a good position for tomorrow's Mont Ventoux stage.

17:03 CEST
Evans enters the last kilometre. This is a technical final kilometre, lost of road furniture.

17:04 CEST
Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) ends the stage with a time of 51:33. Just off of Bert Grabsch (Columbia-Highroad) by seven seconds. Evans will be upset, such a close call, but he did lose to a world champion.

17:06 CEST
Niki Terpstra (Milram) is finishing his time trial on a normal bike, after a problem with his time trial bike.

Iñigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi) finishes in 55:34.

17:10 CEST
Ludovic Turpin (AG2R La Mondiale) finishes in 87th. He had a great day yesterday, but paid for it today.

17:13 CEST
Niki Terpstra (Milram) is doing his best on his normal bike. He wears a TT helmet, but rides his standard road bike.

17:13 CEST
A brave ride by the Dutchman. Remember, he won yesterday's stage from a five-man escape to take the overall lead from Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto).

17:23 CEST
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) will be disappointed with his time. Alberto Contador (Astana) and Evans both rode well, though. Evans took back the overall lead from Niki Terpstra (Milram).

Niki Terpstra (Milram) held it for one day thanks to his win yesterday.